Pressure measuring manometer with alignment spur
Inventors
Saied, Abdolreza • Lee, James I-Che
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-7637165-B2
Publication Date
2009-12-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
A measuring device for detecting and indicating changes in fluid pressure of a test environment relative to ambient fluid conditions, wherein the measuring device includes a linear gear rack having an alignment spur, an indicator needle associated pinion gear, calibrated indicia for visual measure of a pressure change event, and a deflectable diaphragm element. The alignment spur acts upon the pinion gear by maintaining close relationship of the linear gear rack and the needle associated pinion gear and counteracts torque and off-center forces created by the linear rack gear upon deflection of the deflectable diaphragm, thus providing improved resolution of small pressure changes and increased accuracy of measurement as the measuring device operates through a cycling period.
Core Innovation
The invention is a pressure measuring manometer that includes a pressure chamber fluidly connected to a test environment and a diaphragm element adjacent to the pressure chamber. A deflection of the diaphragm element causes linear movement of a linear gear rack, which is translated into rotation of a pinion gear and an indicator needle. The position of the indicator needle is viewable through a cover unit having at least one viewing window with calibrated pressure measurement indicia thereupon, so that a change in pressure in the test environment is determined by correspondence of the indicator needle with the calibrated measurement indicia.
The manometer further includes a linear gear rack comprising adjacent aligned gear teeth and an alignment spur, and a pinion gear comprising radial aligned gear teeth, where the alignment spur is in close proximity of the pinion gear at a point directly opposite. The alignment spur acts to maintain close engagement between the pinion gear teeth and the linear gear rack teeth. This close, uniform engagement is used to counter torque and off-center forces and to reduce backlash during repeated cycling, enabling improved resolution of small pressure changes.
In patient respiration monitoring, the manometer measures pressure cyclic changes in a human patient’s respiratory system for at least 3000 consecutive cycles, and includes a resolution of linear movement in the linear gear rack of at least 0.03 inch. The document also describes embodiments with a transparent or semi-circular cover having viewing windows, optional biasing spring for a zero-state or resistance, and an apnea alarm mechanically coupled to the pinion via a rotating axle with sensor-triggered visual and auditory alerts.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims define three interrelated embodiments of a pressure measuring manometer, specifying the diaphragm-to-linear gear rack-to-pinion-to-indicator needle mechanism with calibrated visual readout, the alignment spur to maintain close tooth engagement and reduce backlash, and patient respiration monitoring with cyclic operation and resolution constraints.
Diaphragm-driven linear gear rack and pinion readout with calibrated indicia
A pressure measuring manometer comprising a pressure chamber fluidly connected to a test environment, a diaphragm element adjacent to the pressure chamber and connected to a linear gear rack, and an indicator needle attached to a pinion gear; wherein a change in pressure induces deflection of the diaphragm element that causes linear movement of the linear gear rack translated into rotation of the pinion gear and the indicator needle, and wherein the indicator needle position is viewable through viewing windows of a cover unit having calibrated pressure measurement indicia and is determined by correspondence of the indicator needle with the calibrated measurement indicia.
Close engagement maintained by an alignment spur for linear gear rack and pinion teeth
A pressure measuring manometer wherein adjacent aligned gear teeth of a linear gear rack engage radial aligned gear teeth of a pinion gear, and wherein an alignment spur is in close proximity of the pinion gear at a point directly opposite whereby the alignment spur acts upon the pinion gear to maintain the pinion gear teeth and linear gear rack teeth in close engagement.
Measurement of cyclic respiratory pressure changes over at least 3000 consecutive cycles
A pressure measuring manometer wherein the pressure measuring manometer measures pressure cyclic changes in a respiratory system of a human patient for at least 3000 consecutive cycles.
Patient respiration measurement with minimum resolution and continuous cycle capability
A pressure measuring manometer for use in patient respiration measurement, wherein the resolution of linear movement in the linear gear rack is at least 0.03 inch and the pressure measuring manometer is capable of operating at least 10 cycles per minute for a continuous period of at least 3000 cycles.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive structure is the diaphragm-driven conversion of pressure change into linear rack motion and pinion/indicator needle rotation with a cover unit readout against calibrated indicia, together with an alignment spur positioned directly opposite the pinion to maintain close tooth engagement and reduce backlash. Additional independent claim coverage ties operation to patient respiration monitoring with specified cyclic operation and resolution capability.
Stated Advantages
Improved resolution of small pressure changes during repeated cycling.
Counteraction of torque and off-center forces.
Reduced backlash during repeated cycling.
Ability to measure cyclic changes in a human patient’s respiratory system for at least 3000 consecutive cycles.
Resolution of linear movement of 0.03 inch or greater.
Operating capability at least 10 cycles per minute for a continuous period of at least 3000 cycles.
Documented Applications
Patient respiration measurement and monitoring, including measurement of cyclic changes in a human patient’s respiratory system for at least 3000 consecutive cycles.
Respiratory/ventilation system monitoring with an apnea alarm mechanically coupled to the pinion and providing visual and auditory alerts upon sensor triggering.
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